BJC Medical Group is pleased to welcome Prajakta Mungikar, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician who is accepting new patients. Dr. Mungikar completed her medical training at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY in 2016. Prior to completing her internship and residency, she received her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from Deccan College of Medical Sciences in India.

But do you know the specifics? Are there special heart risks for women? What does sugar have to do with your heart?

Christine Testa, ANP, cares for patients at the BJC Medical Group's Heart Care Group at Christian Hospital. She’s passionate about helping patients achieve the best cardiovascular health possible. For National Heart Month, BJC TODAY asked her some questions about heart health. Here are her answers.

Shingrix is the new shingles vaccination. The CDC is now recommending Shingrix instead of Zostavax. Recommendations for administration of Shingrix are two doses separated by 2-6 months. Healthy adults ages 50 and greater are the population that should be immunized. Shingrix is NOT a live vaccination, so it can be used in a wider range of patient population. Shingrix has been shown to be >90% effective at protecting against shingles and post herpetic neuralgia when both doses are administered.

With the winter holidays behind us and this exceptionally cold winter, many of us have our eyes on a sunny beach for spring break. The media reports decreased concerns for Zika infection and less stringent testing guidelines for pregnant women and couples trying to conceive. This reflects a decrease in the incidence of Zika in the Americas and an evolving understanding of the infection. Although certainly a relief for many women and families, it is not a ‘free and clear’ for all couples to spend their spring break vacation on any sunny beach.

BJC Medical Group is pleased to welcome Barbara Green, MD, a board-certified neurologist and multiple sclerosis (MS) specialist to Midwest Neurology on February 15. Dr. Green is passionate about providing care for her patients with MS and has dedicated her career to serving these patients.

Dr. Green is a true leader within the MS field with extensive experience in treating patients with the disease. She received her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. She then completed her internship and residency in neurology at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. She has been in the St. Louis area practicing neurology since 1986.